The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 465

During his earthly career he WIIB the Subject of time, and dependent upon it. He who was before and really above time was now its Subjcot. As such: (1) Ho had regard to its events; what were taking plaoe in the social and religious world around him, their bearings upon each other, and especia.lly upon his movements and actions, and the hearings of his movements upon the events of the time. (2) He had regard to the character ef Ms time; to the men who acted in it-men of religious and social authority and power-to their principles au.d attitude towards him a.nd the great mission of his life. (3) He shaped his course accordingly. He had a certain amount of time to live and do his work. He could escape death if he wished; but could not have escaped death and perform the mission of his life. He might ha.ve shortened his days, and frustrated their end by indiscreetly rushing into the teeth of danger; but as a. Subject of time he had due regard to current events and public feelings in relation to him, so that he ~cted with perfect wisdom and discretion. 2. Jesus as the Manager of time. (1) To him time was very precious. His time was very short, and he had an immense work to do. Never was so little time given for such a great work. Every moment was an age, and ages were compressed into a moment. He me.de the best of time. Every moment was infinitely precious. (2) He had a special time for every work. He never performed a single miracle nor preached a single discourse at random. There was perfect adaptation and correspondence between his actions and the time. They fitted in with the natural sequence of events, and with the state of thoughts and feelings. They could not be performed at any other time with the sa.me results. 'l'hey were like the growth of spring and the ripe fulness of harvest. (3) He had some special work/or every portion of time, so that every hour was well occupied and every minute well spent. He had a season for everything, and everything was in its season. (4) The e:w.ct time/or all his movements was well known to him. He knew when it bad not and when it had come, so that he was never too soon nor too late. He could not be induced to move by the solicitations of friends before his time; neither could he be stopped, nor be driven from the scene of duty, when his time bad arrived. Punctuality was one of his characteristics. He was at every station and every duty in due time, and not before. He was never waiting, and no one ha.d to wait for him. He was bound to time, and time was bonnd to him. He was both its Subject and its King. II. THE TillE OF BIB BRETHREN. Their time and his differed materially. 1. Their time was always ready. This was true with regard to going up to the feast, and also to the manifestation of Christ according to their ideas. They were ever ready and anxious for this. But Christ's time was not yet come. Man's time is often before that of God. His ideas a.re more limited. God's thoughts and plans move in an infinite circle, and take a longer time to be accomplished. Man's time is often after that of God. Now is God's accepted time to repent and believe. It is at some more convenient season often with man. 2. Their time was by self; his by the general good. Their notions were carnal and selfub, and were inspired in all their movements by principles of self-interest; but Christ's notions were spiritual and Divine, and he was ever inspired in all his movements by Divine and benevolent principles-the glory of God and the spiritual redemption of the human family. There is a vast difference between the time of selfishness and that of self-sacrificing love. 3. Their time was by the present; his was by the future as well. They were prompted by present advantage, by considerations which only embraced the limited period of their own life; but Jesus was prompted by future advantages, and by considerations which embraced endless futurity. Every step he ga.ve was given with regard to all future ages. His time was, regulated by eternity, and the eternity of myriads depended on his time. 4. Their time was by earth; his was by heaven. 'fheirs was by the material sun ; his was by the eternal throne. TLeir principles were in perfect accord with those of the world, and their notions of the Messiah were those of the nation at large. So that tbey could move with perfect safety whenever they liked, they were in no danger. But the principles of Jesus were in perfect accord with those of God-they were holiness, spirituality, benevolence, s~lf- sacrifice, and mercy, and thus in direct ant.agonism to the world; so that an unwise move might result in an untimely and fatal collision. 5. Their time was by unbelief; Ms wa, by faith. We are told that his brothers did not really believe on him. ~nd unbelief is ever impatient, r.nmmancling, and always ready for some carnal d~':1onstrat10~ and material eign. Faith is patient, eubmissive, and ever grateful for a v1s10n when ,t on. vn. 1-63.J TUE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 337